WEBVTT SARAH.UNI, GOOD MORNING.FOR DECADE, THERE HAVE BEENPROBLEMS WITH TRAIN ON THETRACKS BLOCKING IN THECOLLEGEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD BUTWITH THE NEW BRING, THAT IS NOLONGER AN ISSUE.THE BRING IS NAMED AFTER THELATE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTMAXINE PARK EAR LEADER WHOFOUGHT SO HARD TO FROM THEBRIDGE BUILT AND PROBLEMS FOR ALONG TIME WITH THESE TRAINTRACKS BLOCKING IN THENEIGHBORHOOD BUT IT WAS NOTUNTIL 20 0 THAT THIS BECAMEISSUE OF LIFE AND DEATH.THAT IS WHEN ARELY COUPLE DIEDIN THE HOME WHILE A FIRE TRUCKHAD TO WAIT FOR A TRAIN TO PASSTO GET TO THEM.A PARTNER LOBBIED STATE ANDFEDERAL LEADERS TO GET MACHINENO I THE BRING OVER THE TRAINTRACKS ANTI-ED IN 2013 BUT TODAYTHE YEARS OF HARD WORK AREFINALLY PAYING OFF.COLLEGEVILLE RESIDENTS ARETHRILLED TO GET COMPLETION OFTHIS BRIDGE.>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEBEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO.SARAH.CEREMONY DEDICATING THE BRIDGESTARTING AT 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.GOVERNOR KAY IVEY EXPECTED TO BE

The Maxine Parker Bridge is expected to open in Collegeville Tuesday afternoon.

The bridge, which is located on Fred L. Shuttlesworth Drive, gives motorists and pedestrians a path over railroad tracks.

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For decades, people living in Collegeville have had problems with trains passing over the tracks and blocking access to the neighborhood. In 2000, an elderly couple died in their burning home while a fire truck had to wait for a train to pass on the tracks.

Birmingham City Councilwoman Maxine Parker lobbied state and federal leaders for several years to get money to build a vehicle-pedestrian bridge over the train tracks.

Parker passed away in 2013, before construction began on the bridge. Chester Wallace, vice president of the Collegeville Neighborhood Association, said he’ll never forget the role the councilwoman played in building the bridge.

“I can't help but every time I come over this bridge is to thank Mrs. Parker,” Wallace said.

The bridge will officially open Tuesday afternoon. Wallace said he feels like it’s the beginning of great things for the neighborhood.

“It's like revitalizing Collegeville. It's something that we've been looking forward to and it's going to bring pride back to the community,” Wallace said.

A ceremony to dedicate the Maxine Parker Bridge is at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Governor Kay Ivey is expected to be in attendance.